Friday Cocktail Time...a trip back to the 30's

So as usual it is friday and I need a cocktail.  I thought I would switch it up a bit and make a cocktail from my "The Savoy Cocktail Book".  You may remember seeing this book in photos from my trip the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans (here).  This one is a facsimile created in the 80's, which is perfect for me.  An original 30's edition usually sells for around 300-500 bucks...no thank you I would rather spend my dollars on booze......this one is about 40-50 dollars on the big E.

The Savoy Cocktail Book

What is so cool about this version is it is suppose to be EXACTLY like the original, complete with all of the illustrations.

Just one of the many illustrations!

For today I decided on an American Beauty Cocktail...because well I'm an American Beauty!

Recipe....it doesn't mention ice...but I added some to the shaker!

After one quick trip to the liquor store for some brandy, I was all set. (Don't forget you will need port too...I didn't notice that before I left, but luckily we had a bottle on hand...and don't go without it, it really adds to the drink!)

The goods

This one is pretty easy!  Since the ratio was 1/4 of the main four ingredients, I used 1oz of each which worked well because two of the fours are mixers...so you basically end up with roughly a 2oz strong drink.  Also that makes it the perfect size drink to use in a iced hi-ball glass.

All shook up!

Now for the pour....

A nice orangey red color

Looks so delicious in my new bar glass....which I thrifted this very afternoon.  My new last name starts with an "L".  It was meant to be! Lets see another couple photos of that sexy glass with the port added on top.

Front

Back

VERDICT - This drink is seriously delicious.  It is rather sweet given the ounce of both grenadine and orange juice, plus the port on top....but the flavors work really well together.  Even the dash of Creme de Menthe is great...there is a touch of minty-ness in each sip.  Don't be scared to try it! My husband said it sounded like a hot mess......and it does have a lot going on...but it works!  Now I'm off to make another.

Cheers!

Becca

Mid Century Drink Day! Let's spin that wheel...Bar Aid #43

That is right...it has been a while since I've had a mid century cocktail, sadly.  So I decided it was high time to make one from my Bar Aid cocktail spinner again (after seeing another Bar Aid over on a Thriftables thrift share post).  Let's pull a number shall we....

#43  Gunga Din

Here is the recipe in case it is hard to read in the photo:

GUNGA DIN

3/4 Dry Gin

1/4 Dry Vermouth

1 slice pineapple

Juice of 1/4 Orange

Shake well with ice & strain

I quickly gather my supplies....since I have everything on hand (YES!!)

The fruit

Muddle said fruit...take the frustration of the day out on it!

You have been muddled, sir

Measure out your liquor and add to your shaker along with ice

Shake, Shake, Shake

Strain into a chilled glass

#43 Gunga Din

VERDICT: Quite tasty! I was surprised! I usually like more sweeter drinks than dry, but this was very good.  While it was a little dry the fruit juice balance it perfectly.  It didn't taste like alcohol at all which can happen when there is gin involved.  This is definitely one to make again.

Ciao

Becca

Tiki Drink : Atlantic Breeze

Since my recent dining experience at Trader Vic's I have been rather obsessed with anything and everything Tiki. So I thought for this Friday I would make a tropical adult beverage.  Where better to find the perfect cocktail recipe than in Shag's Tiki Cocktail book.

After flipping around I quickly decided on the Atlanic Breeze, since I needed to juice this beautiful pineapple I picked up at the farmers market last weekend. 

 Here we go!

Recipe

The hardest part was to juice the pineapple....since I have no idea how to begin I sort of MacGuyver'd it. 

The finished product!

VERDICT: Oh so good. I will have another....oh wait I already do! I don't think I will be using this glass too much unless it has been a particularly bad day.  I had to double the recipe to fill this baby up.  An automatic make mine a double so to speak.

To show you the scale of this glass....geezzz

Note to self.....buy LONG straws and cocktail umbrellas.

Note to everyone else.....if you try to make this at home don't be sad if you can't "float" the grenadine....Mine sunk like a stone!

I hope you all have a great weekend!  Happy Friday!

Becca

Mid Century Drink - None but the Brave

Okay...so it isn't Friday, but this week has been rough.  So....do you know what that calls for....a cocktail!  This is one that I have been drinking for a little while, but have yet to post about, called "None but the Brave".   I found this recipe after searching for ways to use a bottle of Allspice Dram I purchased on a whim.(A good whim, it is delicious!)  So here we go.....

 

The "Goods"

RECIPE: 1.5oz. Brandy, .5oz Allspice Dram, .5oz Lemon Juice, .5oz Rum, .25 tsp sugar;   Shake over ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Alright! A measure, shake and pour drink....so easy.   Here is the finished product:

 

 My first time using our new dancing pink elephant glasses

 Look I even have pink elephant ice cubes, hey I'm all about the matching.

VERDICT:  Oh so good.  Even after making this for a while, I still play with the ratios a little.  Next time I'm thinking, put in some of those homemade bitters we made.  Yum!

Becca

Mid Century Drink Day - Hot Buttered Rum

So since it is drink day and it is freezing outside (It is 43 degrees!  Yeah I know I'm a whimp) I thought I would try a hot drink.  It took a bit of flipping to find one, but I did!  Hot Buttered Rum.

( The downer to renting is granite counter tops.....Booooo!)

RECIPE: 1.5oz. Jamaica Rum, 1 sugar cube, 4 cloves, 1 pat butter.  Put all ingredients in glass, add boiling water.

Seems easy to me!

Here are all the ingredients

Now I just need that boiling water.  If you don't have an electric kettle, I highly recommend one.  Mr.Honey bought one and I sort of rolled my eyes at it thinking it would be just another gadget taking up space; But! turns out we use it quite frequently.

Electric kettle...brings water to a boil in 60 seconds!

Voila!

VERDICT: Not bad, I rather like it.  Warms you up quickly.  After making, I looked this drink up online and there are many variations.  Some use brown sugar, vanilla extract, and a medley of spices. (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg)  I think I might add some to see how it changes the taste.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Becca

PS:  I just added all of the extras listed above...and this drink just became AMAZING!  Definite keeper.

Mid Century Drink Day - Gertie's Garter

I’m back! ....a day late but none the less, let’s have a drink.

I have been MIA lately due to being sick… and as I laid in bed, home from work, I thought to myself I should be getting some prime blogging done…but all the energy I had was used to start the next episode of Medium on the lap top.  Let just say I watched a LOT of Medium and Ghost Whisperer (hey don’t judge me! These are great shows…I swear).  Thankfully I am feeling much better Dr. Robitussin and do not sound like a man anymore.  Seriously I answered a call from my brother and he thought Mr. Honey had picked up….not a good sign.

So now that I am back in the land of the living…and drinking….lets make a cocktail shall we.

This one is going to be quickie since I don’t really feel like hitting the local liquor store.  Luckily the drink gods are smiling upon me and it only took two tries to pull a cocktail number from the jar for which I had all the ingredients on hand.   SWEET!  #36  Gertie’s Garter.

RECIPE:  3 parts Dry Gin, 1 part Grapefruit Juice, 1 part Grenadine.  Shake well with ice and strain into glass.  Add fruit desired.

TIP:  If you are working to achieve a fully stocked bar like we are, I suggest to always keeps some small cans of fruit juices on hand.  We always have a few cans of tomato juice, grapefruit juice, and pineapple juice in the cabinet to use as mixers.  

So Viola!  The drink in my new "Executive" cocktail glass:

VERDICT:  Ok I'm really digging this one, it is a keeper....and I didn't think I liked Gin.  

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Becca

Mid Century Drink Day - Bar Aid #46

So it is Friday evening...time for a cocktail.  This post tonight is going to be short and sweet.  I picked a number randomly from the jar......#46 Jamaica Ginger.

Awesomely enough, I had everything for this drink...which was a good thing!  It has been a tedious day and I really didn't feel like running to the store so I might have had to put the number back and fish for another

RECIPE:  2/3 Jamaica Rum, 1/3 Grenadine, 3 dashes each Maraschino and Curacao, 1 dash Angostura Bitters.  Shake well with ice, Strain into glass.

Lets get started....

 Oh if you ever see one of these out and about I would pick it up.  This little guy is super convenient for drinks like this with a 2/3 to 1/3 ratio.  One side is marked a Jigger 1.5oz and the other a pony .75oz, makes measuring a breeze!

So once I have it all in the cocktail shaker.....SHAKE, SHAKE, POUR!

There you go a nice looking drink.

VERDICT - Yummy.  I would definitely drink this again..  While it does have a nice spice to it, I'm not sure why it is called a Jamaica Ginger. 

Oh and is it weird that I have cocktail glasses that match my curtains? Ha!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Becca

Bar Aid - Lets spin that wheel! #56

Today is a great day for a cocktail....not because it was bad but because it was AWESOME!  A mini celebration.  I received word yesterday that a booth at a local antique mall opened up for me and I'm super excited.  I have "inventory" stashed all over the house and I'm ready to get it in front of buyers. I'm takin' my closet BACK!

I decided to use the bar air for today's drink recipe, so I pulled a random number out of the drink jar....#56  Millionaire No. 2.  And just to prove that everything is going right today...I actually have every ingredient on hand so no trip to the local liquor store. SWEET!

 RECIPE:  1/3 each Jamaica Rum, Apricot Brandy, and Sloe Gin, 1 dash Grenadine, juice of 1 Lime.  Shake with ice and strain into glass.

Here is a close up of the particular brands...I personally like Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum and always use Rose's Grenadine.  Also if you need to pick up some Sloe Gin you might not find it along with all the standard gins, I found this bottle over with all the cordials....and on the Apricot Brandy, I'm not sure.  Luckily we received a bottle of it, homemade, from a friend several months ago and it was in the freezer.  Now since the the recipe only calls for one third of each ingredient but no actual measurement...I used my 1.5oz jigger for each.

Thanks A & D.  The Apricot Brandy is delicious!   

Here is all the ingredients in my new shaker...to save time I just split the lime into quarters, squeezed and dropped each segment.

 

 A little shake and some straining and Viola!  Finished Product!

 

VERDICT:   Delicious. I want another! The flavors meld perfectly.  The recipe says to strain all ice but I think I prefer it with a few ice cubes 

You should try it.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Becca

Mid Century Drink Day!!

Ok so today's drink is the Sazerac which is a New Orleans style whiskey cocktail.  I figured I would make this drink since we just picked up a bottle of Rye from the liquor store around the corner (hey..you have to support the local businesses...so you might as well do it with booze.)

 
Sazerac:

1 cube of sugar (I used half a tbsp)
1 1/2 oz Sazerac Rye whiskey (I didn't use the Sazerac brand)
1/4 oz Pernod
3 dashes of Bitters
Lemon Peel

Here we go!  Take one glass and fill with ice and a little water to chill.  In a second glass add the sugar cube and bitter and muddle.

Next the rye whiskey is added to the sugar mixture.  Now empty the ice filled glass and add and whish the Pernod just it coats the glass, discard the excess.

 
The rye/sugar/bitters mixture is then poured into the Pernod coated glass and garnished with a lemon peel.

Tada!  I know my peel looks lame.  I couldn't get a good one so I just used sliver of lemon.

VERDICT:  Not bad.  I could drink this...well with a little tonic.(my answer for everything)